Politics

'Pretty Good' Budget Deal Looks Good Enough To Avoid Shutdown

9:01am January 15, 2014

by David Welna

The so-called "omnibus" package of all 12 annual spending bills has more money in it than what Congressional Republicans wanted, but less than what President Obama had asked for. There is some disappointment with the measure on both sides of the aisle, but this time nobody is talking about forcing another government shutdown.

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Hopes Dim For Long-Term Extension To Jobless Benefits

6:33pm January 14, 2014

The Senate is still struggling to find a way to pay for an extension of unemployment benefits for those out of work for 26 weeks or more. Majority leader Harry Reid agreed to bring up five Democratic and five Republican amendments in hopes to winning enough Republicans over to get to the 60 votes needed for passage.

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Students in Central High School walk through the hallways between classes.

Nearly Six Decades Later, Integration Remains A Work In Progress

1:30pm January 14, 2014

by Debbie Elliott

In Little Rock, Ark., a federal judge approved a settlement that brings an end to a landmark school desegregation case. The case dates back to 1957, when nine black students integrated Central High School, which up until that point was all-white. But after 60 years of desegregation efforts, are the classes really integrated?

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Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in the U.S. Capitol building May 14, 2013. Groups are creating ads in New Hampshire to attack Shaheen 10 months before the midterm congressional elections.

Political Groups Aim Early Attacks At New Hampshire Senator

7:32am January 14, 2014

by Peter Overby

The midterm congressional elections are 10 months away. But some political and ideological organizations are already buying ads to criticize incumbents they hope to take down in November, like Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

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Homeless women sit amid their belongings in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. Democrats and Republicans say income inequality is a problem, but they disagree over a solution.

The War Over Poverty: A Deep Divide On How To Help

6:51pm January 13, 2014

by David Welna

On the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" speech, the clash between Republicans and Democrats on how to alleviate poverty has come front and center. Republicans insist that anti-poverty programs have failed; Democrats say they have worked and should be expanded.

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Balance Of Power At Stake In High Court Case

12:18pm January 13, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

At issue in the Supreme Court on Monday is whether the president's power to make temporary appointments during the Senate recess can be curtailed by the use of pro forma Senate sessions during which no business is conducted.

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Ariel Sharon's Death Sparks Strong Emotions Across Middle East

6:40pm January 11, 2014

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon died Saturday at the age of 85. Israelis mourned the death of the celebrated politician and army general. But Palestinians reacted differently to the death of the controversial leader, who pushed for Jewish settlement of Palestinian territories.

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New Iranian President Brings 'Resurgence Of Hope' For Some

6:40pm January 11, 2014

Reporting from inside Iran has been very difficult for Western reporters over the last several years. The disputed 2009 elections triggered massive anti-government protests. In response, Iran cracked down hard on protesters, and clamped down tightly on journalists' access. That has begun to change with Iran's newly elected president, Hassan Rouhani. Scott Peterson, reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, was recently able to visit and report from Iran for the first time in more than four years. Peterson speaks with host Arun Rath about his trip.

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Politics & Government

U.S. Slow To Allow Syrian Refugees To Emmigrate

12:45pm January 10, 2014

Four years into the conflict in Syria, relief agencies working with refugees are starting to shift their focus to permanent resettlement. But not many countries — the U.S. included — are welcoming Syrian refugees with open arms.

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Politics & Government

N.J. Gov. Christie Faces Traffic Jam Scandal

10:21am January 10, 2014

Uncovered emails and text messages link Gov. Chris Christie's administration to a scandal involving the closing of lanes leading to the country's most traveled bridge. It snarled traffic for days. The emails add evidence to claims from state Democrats that the closure was political retribution for a mayor who did not endorse Christie for re-election.

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